Operating and lubricating means for cocks and valves



Sept, 22, 1935- c. H. BEcKw-ITH 'OPERATING AND LUBRICATING MEANS FORCOCKS AND VALVES Filed July l0, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 7 E Z f sf.; 6 6O o i 6 i l, l a mi 6 3 w F m 4 m Z 0 J l 0 il I. 7 i w 6 .O 4 0 ,4 .o6a 4 Sept; 22A, 1936. 2,055,449

OPERATING AND LUERICATING MEANS FOR cocKs AND VALVES H. Bl-:cKwlTH FiledJuly 10, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 22, .1936

OPERATINGl AND LUBnIoATmG Fony oocxs .AND vALvEs MEANS clintonn.Beckwith, Geneva, m., assi'gnor to Craneow, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof lili-l nois Application .my 1ro, 193s, serial No. 619,614 '24claims.' A(ci. 251%93) This invention provides a lubricated plug valvewith means operable by means to turn the valve plug for forcinglubricant between the seating surfaces of the plug and its casing.whereby to obviate sticking of the plug and to render the valve readilyoperable without necessitating a previous hand manipulation oflubricantv forcing means. In a. general aspect, the invention comprisesan operating and lubricating means applicable to various cocks andvalves or other devices which are intended to be operated more or lessoccasionally and which are likely to stick after staying Jin oneposition a considerable period of time. f

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation with parts insection .of an apparatusA containing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3,1ooking inthe direction of the arrows.-

Fig. 3 is a top plan view. 'I'he drawings represent a lubricated cock orplug valve of the type disclosed in U. S. patent to Flodin No. 1,875,302of August 30. 1932. As shown in the drawings, the tapered valve plug Ihaving a transverse port 2 is fitted in a correspondingly formedseat'therefor in the valve casing. 3 and is held seated therein by thebonnet 4 secured to said casing, a suitable gasket-being clamped betweensaid bonnet and the top of the valve plug. A tubular screw 5 throughwhich the plug 'stem '6 extends is screwed into the bonnet against athrust washer which is thereby forced against the top of the plug, saidwasher having lugs (not shown)` cooperating one with a notch lin theplug and the other with a recess in the bonnet to limit rotation of theplug to ninety degrees. In they position of the valve plug shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the port 2 of the plug establishes communication throughthe plug between the4 inlet and outlet passageways of the-valve casing.such communication being shut oif by the plug when turned to a positionat right anglesto the position shown.

For lubricating the seating surfaces of the plug and its casing, greasesupplied to a receptacle or passage 8 in the plug stem may be conductedvia the inwardly opening check valve 3 to radial ducts I communicatingwith suitable lubricant grooves I I. As in the Flodin patent, there aretwo lubricant grooves formed in the seating surface of the valve casingand extending substantially continuously around the uid passage openingsof said seating surface. so as to provide grease seals around saidopenings vin both the' closed and open is aixed to the stem of the plug.

Vdriving gear 25.

, vided at the opposite end of the worm from that on'a bracket 3I which4is attached to asupporting positions of the valve. The two lubricantgrooves are separate or unconnected with each other, so as to preventthe blowing outof the lubricant from the entire groove system as thevalve plug is turned to and from open position.` This is mere- 6ly'exemplary of one suitable means for conducting lubricant to theseating surfaces of a cock or plug valve to which the present inventionmay be applied.

The valve 'plug may be operated by hand` or 10 v power through themedium of a worm ing a worm wheel segment I3 the hub I2 engag- 'I'heworin shaft is formed at one end of the worm with a threaded portionengaged by nuts I and I6 and l5 with a polygonal extension I1 which isslidably fitted in the correspondingly shaped bore of a driving sleeveor tubular shaft I8 mounted in suitable bearings I9. As shown there aretwo bearings I9 each comprising a pair of grooved 20 race rings and aninterposed Aseries of balls, the two outer race rings being' clampedbetween a pair of housing members and 2| which are bolted to an outerhousing 22`in which the member 2II is fitted, said outer housing 22being sup- 25 ported by abracket arm 23 formed on the bonnet 4. Anexternal shoulder onthe tubular driving shaft I8 is clamped between thetwo inner race rings, thereby preventing endwise movement of .saidtubular shaft. Rigidly connected with said tubular shaft vI8 is ahandwheel 24J and also a In the specic construction of the hand-wheel isscrewed which is fitted in and keyed shown, the hub 26 to a stub shaft21 with the tubular shaft I8, while the driving gear 25 is fitted ons'aidfshaft I8 between the housing member 2| and the hub 26 of-thehandwheel4 and made fast with the latter by clutch-type enf gaging means28.

'I'he reason for driving the worm `through a 40 tubular shaft with whichthe worm is slidably connected is to permit a limited axial movement ofthe worm for a purpose presently to be explained. A worm shaft bearing29 is prowhich is connected with the tubular driving shaft. Said bearing29 is shown as an antifriction bearing unit the outer race ring of whichis suitably secured in a housing member 30 formed arm 32 extending fromthe valve bonnet. The worm shaft is slidably tted in the inner race ringof said bearing29'. A shoulder 33 on the worm shaft coacts with saidbearing to limit end- `wise movement of the worm to the left, while the55 nef which nut I6 coacts with the end of the tubular driving shaft I8to limit endwise movement of the worm to the right. In other words,the/excess of the distance between the bearing/29 and the inner end ofthetubular shaft I8, over the distance -between the shoulder 33 and theend of the nut I6, determines the extent of endwise movement which ispermitted for the worm. By replacing the nut I5 with one of lessthickness, the distance between.33 and the end of nut I6 may be de'-creased, thus increasing the permissible endwise movement of the worm asmay be required. A Beyond the bearing l29, the Worm shaft extension 34is connected with a pump piston 35 working in the pump cylinder 36. Asshown, the worm shaft extension has a swivel connection with saidpiston. The piston is cup-shaped, and the worm vshaft extensionconstituting the piston rod passes loosely through a central opening inthe piston head, and is connected with the piston by means 'of a pair ofantifriction thrust bearing units 31,

one of said units being clamped between the piston head and a nut 38screwed on the threaded tip' of the worm shaft extension, the other ofsaid units being clamped between said nut anda threaded member 39screwed into the piston, thus providing said swivel connection, so thatthe worm can freely revolve without turning the piston.

The pump cylinder 36 is formed in a tank 40 which is 'attached to themember 4I of the bracket 3l, the cylinder head 42 being clamped betweensaid tank and member `4I and being formed with a stufling box thepacking of which is compressed by the gland 43. In said tank above thepump cylinder is anoil reservoir. 44, and in said tank below thecylinder is a, separate oil pressure compartment 45 communicating by theflexible conduit 46 with means presently to be described for effecting aforce feed of lubricant tothe lubricating system of the valve. At

both sides of the piston, the pump cylinder is connected with theoilreservoir 44 through passages having inwardly opening checkvalves 41, Y

and with the compartment 45 through passages having outwardly openingcheck valves 48. 'I'hus the pump is double acting. As the piston ismoved ineither direction, oil will be sucked from the reservoir .44into' one end of the cylinder, and will be forced from the other end ofthe cylinder into the compartment 45.

Said compartment 45 is provided with bottom drain openings closed byscrew plugs '49. The oil reservoir' 44 has a removable.cover 58 securedthereto by swing bolts 5I. A float 52 in the oil reservoir has its stemextending through a guide in the cover and functions to indicate theliquid level in the reservoir. When the oat vdescends to thepositionshown in Fig. 1, an element 53 on the oat stem may actuate amercuryswitch 54 controlling an electric circuit', which may be either an alarmcircuit or a motor circuit as hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 2, a'lubricant reservoir 55 in communicationwith thelubricant passage 8'in the valve plug stem is provided by a tubularmember 56 in which is a follower 51 for forcing the lubricant to thevalve. Said tubular member is affixed to the enlarged head of a screwplug 58 which is screwed into the upper end of the valve plug stem. Thelower end of said tubular member is seated in a groove in the top ofsaid plug. The upper-end of said Ytubular member is closed by al cap 58having a. groove engaging said upper end. The plug 58, tubular member 56thereon and cap 58 are clamped together by a binding screw 68 carried bya yoke 6I which is -pivotally con-A 'tightening the binding screw 68 thejoints between said tubular member and the plug 58 and cap 59 aresubstantially grease tight.

'Lubricant is forced to the lubricantdistributing v grooves of the plugvalve by oil pressure acting on the follower 51. The follower 51 and cap59 are so formed that even when the follower is in its extreme upperposition in contact with the cap a pressure chamber 63 is formed betweenthem. This chamber communicates through the aforesaid conduit 46 withthepbottom pressure compartment 45 of the oil tank. The oil pump,compartment 45 and chamber 63 being all lled with oil, it will beapparent that at each'operation of the pump the forcing of oil into thevcompartment 45 will create a pressure which, acting upon the follower51, will force the follower downward, with accompanying enlargement ofthe chamber 63.

If the force required to turn the valveplug I is greater than that whichmust be exerted to work the pump piston 35, the worm I2 when operatedwill climb the worm wheel segment I3 until the worm is shiftedlongitudinally as far as permitted by its motion-limiting stops, andthen on its continued rotation the worm will drive the worm wheelsegment and thereby turn the -valve plug from open to closed positionorv vice versa asthe case may be. Thus every operation of the worm toturn the valve plug will be accompanied by a Working stroke of thedouble-acting pump piston until such a pressure builds'up on the oil inthe compartment 45 as to create a greater resistance to the Imovement ofthe pump piston vthan the resistance to the turning movement of thevalve Plug.

So long as such a pressure is maintained, the worm when operated willdrive the worm wheel segment to turn the valve plug without longitudinalshifting of the worm and therefore without operation of the pump. Butwhen this presf sure is reduced, as .a result of feeding of the lupaniedby a longitudinal shift of the worm and operation of the pump, restoringthe said pressure. Thus the lubricant in the reservoir will bemaintained under a substantially constantv pressure for forcing thelubricant to the seating surfaces of the valve plug and its casing, andevery operation of the valve will be preceded by a forced feed oflubricant to the valve if required. If the valve plug after being a longtime in either open or closed position should stick on account of needof lubricant, its resistance to turning will cause the worm whenoperated to shift and work the pumppreceding the driving of the wormwheel ,segment to :turn the plug, thus forcing lubricant movement ofsaid member being dependent upon limit switches for stopping thenotor asthe valve reaches open or closed position. This is a well known type ofmotor are disclosed in my issued patents including Beckwith 1,529,005 ofMarch 10, 1925. Q

The previously mentioned switch 5I, which is actuated by the float 52when the'oil in the reservoir 44 reaches a low level, may control arelay circuit (not shown) for actuating an alarm,- or itV may controlthe motor circuit for breaking said circuit when said low oil level isreached. At about the time the float 52 actuates said switch 54. thefollower 51 in the lubricant reservoir 55 will be nearly orsubstantially at its lowest position, or in other words the lubricantreservoir will need replenishing at about the same time that the oilreservoir needs replenishing. When this condition is reached, thebinding screw 60 may be loosened and the yoke 6i carrying said screw maybe swung out of the way torelease the cap 59 which may then be removedfrom the upper end of the tubular member lib.v Said member having thefollower 5l in its bottom and being lled with rail may be removed fromthe Valve, and the oil may be pouredrtherefrom back into the oilreservoir M. The tubular member may then be lled with grease and placedin inverted position on the valve and secured as shown in Fig.' 2, andthe apparatus is again ready for use. 'I'hus the tubular member 5E withits follower Sifconstitutes an invertible element which may be usedeither end up, so that the grease may bebacked into' either end and sothat it will function as a removable oil receptacle from which the oilcan be poured back into the oil reservoir 4d.

It will be understood that the illustrative apparatus maybe variouslymodified in details of construction and arrangementto suit variouscondi-` tions or requirements; i moreover it is not indispensable thatall of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since differentfeatures may be vadvantageously used in various different combinationsand sub-combinations.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,`is:

1. A plug valve having a lubricating system, means operable to turn'the'valve plug, pumping means operable by said rst-named means, and

-force a'feed of lubricant to means operable by said pumping means, toapply pressure on the lubricant in said system,.

wherebyV the operation of the plug to open or close the valve isaccompanied by a forced feed of lubricant toA the seating surfaces ofthe plug and its casing.

2,. A plug lvalve having a lubricating system,

means operable to turn the valve plug, pumping means operable by saidrst-named means ,before it turns the plug, said pumping means to applypressure on `the lubricant in said system, whereby to force a Afeed oflubricant to the seating surfaces of the plug and its casing immediatelypreceding the plugturning operation.

3. -A plug valve having a lubricating system, means operable to turn thevalve plug including a member capable of a limited independent movementwhen asuillclent resistance to plugturning Voperation is encountered tocause such movement, a pump operable by suchmovement of said member,a'pressure chamber into which and -meansoperable by pressure in saidchamberto'apply pressure on the lubricant in said vsystem whereby to theseating surfaces ofthe plug` and its casing. said independent circuit,examples of which a feed and means operable by a greater resistance tothe than the resistance to the named means.

4. A plug valve having a lubricating system, means operable by fluidpressure to force a feed of lubricant to said system, a pump operable toproduce` such fluid pressure on said means, and means operable to turnthe plug including operatively connected members one having a 16stmotion capability relative to another, said pumping being operable bysaid one member before it becomesveifective to transmit .turning motionoperation of the plug casing, means 'whereby such contraction can beeiected by application of fluid pressure. an operating means, pumpinglmeans operable thereby for producing the fluid pressure to be applied,and means operable by said operating means ,to turn the plug. A

'1. In an apparatus foroperating and forcing ofV lubricant to means tobe operated, the combination with said means and its lubricating system,of means operable to apply pressure on the lubricant in said system,said secondnamed means including a pressure chamber and a pump forforcing liquid in said chamben and mechanism for operating saidfirst-named means including a member capable of a limited independentmovement operatively lconnected with said pump, the construction andarrangement being such that 'if the resistance to the operation of saidfirst-named means is greater than the resistance to the operation ofsaid pump the said fmechanism will operate the latter beforeopoperationl ofsaid last 1 vwhen the resistance to such turning motionexerating thev former and thereby cause a forced feed of lubricant tosaid first-named means, said independent movement of said member beingdependent uponsuch relation of resistances.

8. In an apparatus for operating` and effecting automatic lubrication`of a means to be operated, the combination4 with said means and itslubrieating system, of`mechanism for operating. said means comprising aworm and worm gear element to be driven thereby, said worm being capableof a limited longitudinal movement, and means operable by said worm inits longitudinal movement for forcing a feed of lubricant to saidsystem.

9. In an apparatus forpperating and effecting automatic lubrication of ameans to be operated,

the combination with said means and a lubricating system thereforincluding a lubricant reservoir having a follower operable to applypressure on the lubricant, of a double-acting pump, a liquid reservoirfrom which the pump draws liquid at each stroke, aliquid pressurechamber into which the pump forces liquid at 'each stroke, the presm foroperating said rst-namedmeans including meapsto operate saidpumautomatic lubrication of a means to beoperted,

sure insaid 'chamber acting on said follower, and

the combination with said means and a lubricating system thereforincluding a lubricant reservoir havingl a follower operable to applypressure on the lubricant, of means providing a chamber whereby'fiuidpressure can be applied on said follower, means for operating saidfirst-named means including a worm capable of a limited erable by theworm in its longitudinal movement for forcing fluid into said-chamber.

Y 11. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein thelubricant reservoir is re'- .movable and invertible substantially as andfor the purpose. described.

12; An apparatus of the character set forth in.

claim 10 wherein the lubricant reservoir is removable and invertible,said reservoir comprising a tubular member having4 said follower thereinand a cap on the upper end of said member and a yokeattached to the partof the apparatus on which said tubular member is mounted having abinding screw engaging said cap, the said pr'essure chamber beingbetween said cap and follower.

13. `In an apparatus for operating and effecting automatic lubricationof a means to be operated,

the 'combination with said means and the lubri- -cating system includinga lubricant reservoir, of mechanism for operating said means. meansoperable by said mechanism for applying pressure on the lubricant insaid system, a motor for operating said mechanism, and means forrendering the motor inoperative when the lubricant reservoir requiresreplenishing.

automatic lubrication of a' means to be operated, the combination withsaid means and a lubricating system therefor including a lubricantreservoir having a follower operable to apply pressure 40 on thelubricant, of mechanism to operate said means comprising a shaft andgearing driven thereby including a gear element in fixed relation tosaid means to be operated,'and means ops erable by a part of saidmechanismv for operating said follower.

' 15. In an apparatus for operating andeffecting automatic lubricationof a means to be operated.

the combination with said means vand= a lubricating system thereforincluding a lubricant reser- 5 voir having a follower operable to applypressure on the lubricant, of mechanism to operate'said means comprisinga shaft and gearing driven thereby, said mechanism including anV elementaxially displaceable-as a result of resistance to the operation of saidmeans in excess of the resistance to displacement of s aid element, suchdisplacement being limited, and means operable by displacement of saidelement for operating said follower. 16. In an apparatus for operatingand effecting automatic lubrication of a means to be operated, thecombination wlthsaid means and a lubricatingsystem thereforincluding alubricant reservoir having a follower operable to apply pressure on thelubricant, of mechanism to operate said means comprising a shaft andgearing driven thereby including a gear element in fixed relation to.said means to be operated, said mechanismincluding an elementdispiaceable as a result of resista! yce to the operation of said meansin excessv of the resistance to displacement of said dispiaceableelement, such displacement being limited, means providing a chamberwhereby'iluid pressure can 5 be applied on said follower, and a pump-operable placement ofsaid element for forcing iluld into 35 14. In anapparatus for operating and effecting said follower for forcing a feedof lubricant, and

by said displacement of said dispiaceable element for forcing fluid intosaid chamber.

17. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a plugvalve having duct means for introducing lubricant between theseatingsur- 5 faces of the valveplug and its casing, a lubrifcantreservoir in communication with said duct longitudinal movement,and'pumping means opmeans, a follower in said reservoir operable toapply pressure on the lubricant, mechanism for turning the plugcomprising a shaft and gear- 10 ing driven thereby, said mechanismincluding an element axially dispiaceable as a result of re-l sistanceto the operation of said means in excessA of the resistance todisplacement of said element,

such displacement being limited, and means operl5 able by displacementof said element to operate said follower.

18. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a plugvalve having duct means for introducing lubricant between the `20seating surfaces of the valve plug and'lts casing,

a lubricant reservoir in communication with said duct means, a followerin 'said reservoir operable to apply pressure on-the lubricant, meansproviding a chamber whereby fluid pressurel can be 25 applied on thefollower, mechanism for turning .the valve plug comprising a shaft andgearing driven thereby, including a gear element in operative relationto said plug, saidmechanism including an element capable of a limiteddisplace- 30 ment as a result of resistaneito the turning of the plug inexcess of the resistance to such' displacement, and pumping meansoperable by dissad chamber. I 35 19. A device of the class describedcomprising, in combination', a plug valve having duct means forintroducing lubricant between the seating surfaces ofthe valve plug andits casing, a lubrica nt reservoir in communication with said ductmeans, a follower in said reservoir operable to apply pressure on thelubricant. an operating means including a worm capable of a limitedlongitudinal movement, 4means operable by the worm in its -longitudinalmovement to operate a worm gear element engaged by the worm andoperatively connected with'the valve plug whereby to turn the valve plugby loperation of said worm.

20. A device of the class-described comprising,`

in combination, aplug valve having duct means Afor introducinglubricant' between the Yseating surfaces of the valve plug andv itscasing, a lubricant reservoir in` communication with said duct means, afollower in said reservoir'operable to. 55 apply pressure on thelubricant, means providing -a chamber whereby fluid pressure can beapplied on the follower, an operating means including a worm capable ofa limited longitudinal movement, pumping' means operable by the worm 60in its longitudinal movement for forcing fluid into said chamber, and a/worm gear element operatively connected' tlthe valve plug and engagedby said worm whereby to turn the valve 21. A valve plug having alubricating system, 65

Ameans operable to apply pressure on the lubricant in said system, andan operating mechanism to operate said means and to turn the valve plug,said mechanlsmcomprising a shaft, a gear 70 drive connection between theshaft and the valve plug including a gear element in fixed relation tothe valve plus. and another operative connection between the shaftandsaid means.

22. A' v plverplug having a lubricating system, 75

10 23. A plug valve having a lubricating system, plaoeable to op'eratesaid means under applicameans operable to applypressure onithe lubri`mechanism to operate said first-named means; cant in said system, and anoperating mechanism 24. A plug valve having a lubricating system. tooperate said means and to turn the valve'plug, means operable to applypressure on. the lubrisaid mechanismlcomprising ashattfa gear drive lcant in said system, and mechanism comprising 5 connection between theshaft and the valve plug gearing operable to turn the valve plug, said 5including a gear element in xed relation to the mechanism including agear element in fixed revalve plug, and means operable by said shaftlation to the valve plug. and embodying a disto operate said mst-namedmeans immediately plaoeable element operatively connected withpreceding' the plug-turning operation. l said means, said last-namedelement being dismeans operable to apply pressure on the lubrition ofpower to said mechanism when the recant in said system, mechanismcomprising gearsistance to turning. of the plug exceeds reing operableto turn the vvalve plug,` said mechslstance to the operation of saidmeans. anism including a gear element in xed relation y 15 to the valveplug, and means operable bysaid CLINTON H. BECKWITH. 15

